- Date
- January 6, 1991, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Sacramento, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6148BCessna T210M
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910106000189A
- Case key
- 26971
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain control of the airplane while flying in instrument meteorological conditions and spatial disorientation of the pilot-in-command. Contributing to the accident was diversion of the pilot's attention to navigational tasks seconds before the loss of control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of a Cessna T210M lost control and collided with level terrain, 3 miles south of the aprt while on an IFR flight. Radar contact was established with the airplane as it climbed through 300 ft MSL. The radar data indicated the airplane appeared to be established on the assigned heading of 150 deg. After the pilot received air traffic control (ATC) clearance to join the flight plan airway and resume own navigation, the airplane was observed to enter descending right turn. As the airplane descended through 1,000 ft MSL, ATC attempted to contact the pilot with no response from the pilot. Witnesses on the ground observed the airplane descend out of the overcast in a near vertical attitude. Two witnesses indicated they heard the airplane's engine overhead heading westbound and then turn eastbound. One of the witnesses stated, 'the engine sounded normal there was no sputtering or anything.' Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6148B
- Reported as
- Cessna T210M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 62693
- Airframe hours
- 2,278
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mazelli, Gary K
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 13, 1990 · 36 hours before
- Destination
- LGB · Long Beach, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- SAC · Sacramento Executive
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 400 total · 344 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SAC, 3 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.